Tethering: How can I use my iPad to access Internet from MacBook

I totally agree with Eric. My friend can play online anywhere with his 3DS tethering to his iPhone. Why can't I do the same with my iPad?
It's not fair. I would hate to jailbreak it just because of this.

Cheers,

Metaxas wrote:
I totally agree with Eric. My friend can play online anywhere with his 3DS tethering to his iPhone. Why can't I do the same with my iPad?

Please read the entire thread. You'll then be able to answer "why" as well as any of us.

It's not fair.

Life is not fair. Anyone who told you otherwise is a liar.

I would hate to jailbreak it just because of this.

You still aren't required to jailbreak your iPad.

Eric Martens1 wrote:
Regarding jailbreak: as far as I understand Metaxa, if you want your iPad to tether you would have to jailbreak, or not?

There is nothing to prevent a user from jailbreaking their device. It's important to realize that doing so voids the warranty. It may be possible to return the device back to it's original condition but it also may not. Apple has the right to refuse warranty service on a device that is jailbroken. Jailbreaking also can result in instability and security vulnerabilities not otherwise present.

@Meg: I have read the whole thread. It was a rhetoric question.

@Eric: Yes, as far as I know, jailbraking is the only way to go to get tethering on the iPad.

I was hunting for an answer to this, so thanks people,

Very annoying I'll be sending Apple my feedback, on this one (ie. enable tethering on iPad 2 quicksmart Apple!!), Basically I have my laptop (HP Windows 7 - Sorry need it for Visual Studio and SQL Server), Phones wise I have:

Apple iPhone 4 on O2-UK (voice and data)
HTC HD7 WinPhone 7 on O2-UK (voice and data)
Samsung Galaxy S (Android) on 3 (Data only)

I use the Samsung Galaxy as a mobile access point/hotspot, it has that functionality built in as standard from Android 2.2 FroYo onwards. I was hoping to decomm that device and get a tablet/pad I've narrowed my options to either iPad 2 3G or Motorola Xoom 3G.

On my 2 O2 phones I have either Smartphone or iPhone data plan with a limited amount of data per month, my 3 deal is for 15GB per month and they dont care how I use that, so I use the email/browser and functionality on the Samsung and also tether my iPhone and HTC HD7 to it when sitting in an office or other public place where I dont have wifi access through a normal hotspot, meaning that when I am "fully mobile" I still have my data allowance on my handsets, available for me to use, but for general working etc. during the day in a non connected environment I can still have my phones connected to a network and syncing over wifi etc. but without eating up my handsets limited data allowance.

If Apple aren't won't include a tethering option on the iPad to allow me to share it's connection then my options are reduced to Motorola Xoom ar suimilar Android based tablet. so Apple over to you, I think my usage case is perfectly valid, how many potential customers for iPad would you like to loose? before you include this functionality in the iOS4.3 download for iPad2, to be honest it seems ridiculous when the option is there on the iPhone 4 with the iOS4.3 upgrade...

. so Apple over to you,

Why is it up to Apple to make decisions for your cell provider?

On my 2 O2 phones I have either Smartphone or iPhone data plan with a limited amount of data per month, my 3 deal is for 15GB per month and they dont care how I use that, so I use the email/browser and functionality on the Samsung and also tether my iPhone and HTC HD7 to it

Why don't you simply tether your iPad to these devices?

Shinkou Ookami wrote:
If Apple aren't won't include a tethering option on the iPad to allow me to share it's connection then my options are reduced to Motorola Xoom ar suimilar Android based tablet. so Apple over to you, I think my usage case is perfectly valid, how many potential customers for iPad would you like to loose? before you include this functionality in the iOS4.3 download for iPad2,

There is some speculation that this limitation is at carrier request but there is really know way to know. Looking at the recently projected figures of Xoom sales vs iPad sales, I don't think Apple is yet quaking in their boots.

Chris CA wrote:

. so Apple over to you,

Why is it up to Apple to make decisions for your cell provider?

Because Apple are in a position to dictate to the providers what they can or can not add/remove on the device, for example if Apple have included an option for tehtering across the board in iOS4.3 (ie for iPhone 4 & iPad 2 3G), the cell providers (a) should not be able to remove it (b) can request an extra charge for using it. (as O2UK appear to have done if I enable tethering on my iPhone 4 I get directions to the effect that I need to contact my provider and have them anable this - my understanding is that in the coming months O2 may well be releasing new tariffs that include the tethering as standard (ie doing away with the extra £8 charge just to tether a device))

On my 2 O2 phones I have either Smartphone or iPhone data plan with a limited amount of data per month, my 3 deal is for 15GB per month and they dont care how I use that, so I use the email/browser and functionality on the Samsung and also tether my iPhone and HTC HD7 to it

Why don't you simply tether your iPad to these devices?

Because the deal I have with 3 is 15GB per month data (any device(s)) and the iPhone and Smartphone data plans are limited to 500MB per month, I did have the sim in a MiFi, but as I had the Galaxy S lying around I thought I'll whack the sim in there and then I have not only Mobile Access Point capability but I also have a browser/media player etc as well.

Also where I'm currently working (I'm a contractor) I get no O2 reception inside the building, but I do get a full 3 network HSDPA signal, As I have different email accounts configured on each of my devices:

iPhone 4 (Business Email Accounts)
HTC HD7 (Personal Email Accounts)

and obviously different apps and uses its easier to tether my other handsets to the galaxy and share the 3 data connection with those hadnsets to pick up my mail and sync/checkin with the other apps I use.

I dont need my laptop in most of the sites I work in as they provide machines, so it tends to sit at my hotel (when away) either online to their wifi/internet systems so I can access it or available to me to do other work/development in the evening. But I must have reliable/easy access to my email and online/cloud systems, I can do this from any of my devices (iPhone 4, HTC HD7, Samsung Galaxy S), but obviously the screen size is a problem, hence my looking at iPad2 or Android Tablet.

I'd like to go down the iPad route but really dont want to have to go back to having to carry my MiFi dongle as well as its another device to have to find a plug for, and another cable I need to carry around, because I wouldn't be transferring ALL my email accounts onto one device I would still need to be able to connect my handsets to the 3 network via a shared hotspot, hence my reason for really wanting the "tethering" option on the iPad.

Couple of use scenarios:
01) General out and about (devices: iPhone 4 & HTC HD7) - Limited data allowance on the handsets, but fine for just general use and email checking.

02) Working in client office with supplied equipment for day to day tasks (devices: iPhone 4, HTC HD7 & iPad/Tablet) greater data allowance provided by 3 data plan and tethering to it, larger screen size, easier to use for emails and checking cloud systems for other areas of my business.

03) Remote working (coffee shop, public meeting place (devices: iPhone 4, HTC HD7 & iPad/Tablet) greater data allowance provided by 3 data plan and tethering to it, larger screen size, easier to use for emails and checking cloud systems, remoting to laptop, or my company desktop/servers.

04) Home, Hotels & more involved development work (devices: iPhone 4, HTC HD7 & iPad/Tablet & Laptop/Desktop) Data allowances not needed at home as home Wifi networks, same for Home Office location, hotels would require a combination probably of their wifi and the data allowance meaning would need to be able to tether laptop to iPad/tablet as well.

I see three configurations for me carrying devices:
01) iPhone 4, HTC HD7
02) iPhone 4, HTC HD7, iPad/Tablet
03) iPhone 4, HTC HD7, iPad/Tablet, Laptop

Yes, I believe internet tethering on iPad is disabled just because AT&T have some promotional prepaid data packages for iPad only, 250MB for $14.99 only (link: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/data-connect-pla ns.jsp). AT&T did it because Verizon has special cheap data plan for iPad users too. On the other hand AT&T charges for iPhone data plan more than for iPad data plan and if iPad could tether, no user with iPad would buy data plan for their iPhones.

But Apple could do a simple if then routine:

If carrierName="AT&T" then
disable_tethering=TRUE
else
disable_tethering=FALSE
end if

And we from Europe would be happy to use internet tethering on iPad, because our carriers don't ever have separate data plan pricing for different devices. Data plan with my carrier is as simple as 5€ for 1GB of data transfer and they don't care how I use it. It is only up to device if it can share internet connection to other devices or not in EU.

Maks Zbogar wrote:
Yes, I believe internet tethering on iPad is disabled just because AT&T have some promotional prepaid data packages for iPad only, 250MB for $14.99 only (link: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/data-connect-pla ns.jsp). AT&T did it because Verizon has special cheap data plan for iPad users too. On the other hand AT&T charges for iPhone data plan more than for iPad data plan and if iPad could tether, no user with iPad would buy data plan for their iPhones.

None of this is known for certain.

But Apple could do a simple if then routine:

If carrierName="AT&T" then
disable_tethering=TRUE
else
disable_tethering=FALSE
end if

As neither of us are part of the iPad software design team, we really don't have anyway of knowing how simple it is, especially as we don't really know why it was disabled in the first place. Continued speculation would be inappropriate.

Eric Martens1 wrote:
Aren´t we left to speculation since Apple does not offer any information?

Perhaps. But the Terms of Use of these forums specifically prohibit speculation about Apple policies.

AT&T doesn't want it... Apple complies by not enabling it in the iOS. Simple as that...